Obert Moyo, Mtizwa make SA moves

[Posted 12 Jul 2012][By Brighton Mupangavanhu]

Forgotten CAPS United central defender Obert Moyo made a surprise signing for Royal Bafokeng sponsored ABSA Premier Soccer League side Platinum Stars this week, signing a three-year deal from the Harare giants.

Moyo was unveiled among other players signed by Stars, and the Dikwena club is excited to have captured the former AmaTuks (University of Pretoria) defender and captain, and the Zimbabwean is expected to contribute his leadership skills to the club, the club general manager Jason Raine said.

“Moyo knows South African football from his previous stint with AmaTuks,
and he is a defender with great leadership abilities too.

“He was captain of the Zimbabwean Under-23 side and has led teams
throughout his club career too. We believe he will be a great addition
to our squad,” Raine told the club’s website.

Interestingly CAPS will benefit from the sale of Moyo despite the player not having played a competitive match for CAPS this season after joining them from Hwange.

Meanwhile, a former CAPS player now with Mamelodi Sundowns, Lionel Mtizwa realised his dream of getting game time after moving to AmaTuks on loan from Pretoria neighbours Sundowns.

Injuries frustrated Mtizwa in his two-year stay with the Chloorkop side, and last season the player had to endure time on the sidelines despite a full recovery because by the time he recovered, the club had exhausted its foreign quota.

Many neutral soccer lovers will feel that justice has finally been done and they will now see a very talented central midfielder in action. Mtizwa was also on the wanted list of a number of ABSA premiership clubs including string interest from Moroka Swallows who until recently were coached by Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund.

Other Zimbabwean players who are rumoured to have sealed moves to South African topflight clubs include Dynamos' Denver Mukamba who is rumoured to have signed for Bidvest Wits, and Dynamos keeper Washington Arubi who is said to be on his way to AmaTuks.

While the influx to South Africa could be good news on the financial side of things, many Zimbabwean football analysts have slammed the moves as bad for soccer development in Zimbabwe and for the good of the national soccer team. Such analysts would prefer to see their stars heading for Europe.